Nursing home fined for inadequate care after maggots found

When a loved one is experiencing a decline of mental capabilities, it can be very difficult for family members to know what to do. As people get older, many of them go through various stages of memory loss, dementia and other conditions that can make it extremely challenging for a loved one to care for them alone. Understanding how to help and assist people who have declining mental faculties is something that can be very frustrating for most people, which is why many families decide they need the help of a nursing home to care for their loved one.

We expect that a nursing home facility has the resources, skills and staff levels to properly care for someone in a state of deteriorating mental health. We believe that our loved ones will be treated with care and dignity as their medical issues are treated properly by people who know what they are doing. Unfortunately, this does not always happen and sometimes, vulnerable patients become victims of neglect and abuse in the nursing home. If a loved one has been neglected in a nursing home contact one of the Connecticut personal injury attorneys at D'Amico & Pettinicchi today to find out your legal options.

Recently, a Connecticut nursing home was fined after the Department of Public Health determined that a lapse in care resulted in one woman developing a maggot infestation in her leg. The woman had been suffering from dementia and was reportedly uncooperative when she was told that she needed medication for leg sores. Instead of having her transferred to a psychiatric facility as was recommended, a physician opted to have her sedated and restrained instead.

An infection in her leg continued to worsen and the woman continued to refuse treatment. The physician and nursing staff never came up with an alternative way to treat the wound, which continued to deteriorate and put the woman's health in danger. Eventually, the infection got so bad that maggots were found. The nursing home was fined only $1,020 for the inadequate care they provided.

This case is very worrisome because we should be able to expect health and medical professionals to deal with these difficult situations in a way that is most beneficial to a patient. People should not have to worry that their loved ones will be ignored or dismissed as a result of mental incapacity. In fact, this is often when they need the most help.

Elder care facilities should be expected to provide a standard level of care to patients. When this does not happen, the personal injury lawyers at our law firm can work with victims and their families to hold a facility accountable contact a Waterbury nursing home abuse lawyer today for a free consultation.